[ EF ] - The Legend of Maximilian Waterlow

Gather near children for I shall tell you a story, a story of epic proportions. A story about a man who first united the great Chroma into one. A man born in the Fracun Empire that went by my many names. Some call him gravedigger others shadow eater. He lived the lives of many but he truly had none. He lived in a time of great mystery and awe, a time where things rarely seemed like they were. He joined them into one just before they fell apart.

Maximilian Waterlow was the fifth and only living bastard son of Primus Growcle II. He was the product of an affair that occurred on one of many campaigns that Primus Growcle II participated in. He would have lived an insignificant life as a simple soldier who would die in battle if not for his fateful meeting with Charia the Bard. When Maximilian reached his 15th year he was sent to fight. He ended up fighting under the heir of Primmus Growcle ll, Primus Growcle lll. As any young man he was determined to prove himself in battle and move up from his low status to a high one. He had inside him an urge to prove himself to his father. His goal was to attain glory or die trying. On a campaign to fight for modern day Azure Hills he met Charia. The bard took an interest in Maximillian and traveled with the army just to mentor Maximilian. As a simple foot soldier all he had to do was be at the fight otherwise he would be penalized. Most foot soldiers spent their time in taverns or ogling women. In this time Charia taught Maximilian. He taught him about all there was to know about his world. He taught him practical skills like sneaking and dueling. He taught him how people thought and he taught him about magic. Charia never displayed magic nor did he teach him magic but he taught him about magic. Maxamillian never questioned anything the bard or where he knew all of this from. Because after a long day of fighting he would come back to Charia who would tell him the most wonderous stories. He said that they were stories from here and there but he knew stories from everywhere. In his stories he would hear about wizards, kings, knights and priests fought and banded together to uncover a knowledge. Empires were dissolved, kings beheaded and people were massacred to discover this knowledge letter by letter. He described a land where peace was not a word and war was a way of life. The quest for this knowledge gave these men and women purpose through harsh times. After traveling with Maximilian for over three years Charia decided to bid farewell. He told Maximilian, “I have taught you all you need to know but I must tell you one more story.” As they both sat on that chilly night as Charia told him a story that was more like a prophecy. He told four lines to Maximilian as he left, they were:

All shall be dissolved,

Through oak and steel the fire shall meet,

All shall be involved,

The knowledge a man shall greet...

--Hanson (Cuffs) Alister